No man, woman, or youth can attain to Christian perfection and neglect the study of the Word of God. By carefully and closely searching His Word we shall obey the injunction of Christ, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. This search enables the student to observe closely the divine Model.... The Pattern must be inspected often and closely in order to imitate it. As one becomes acquainted with the history of the Redeemer, he discovers in himself defects of character; his unlikeness to Christ is so great that he sees he cannot be a follower without a very great change in his life. Still he studies, with a desire to be like his great Exemplar; he catches the looks, the spirit, of his beloved Master; by beholding he becomes changed. {FLB 223.2}

Ingen mand, kvinde eller ung kan opnå kristen fuldkommenhed og samtidig forsømme studiet er Guds Ord. Ved omhyggelig og nøje ransagelse af Hans Ord skal vi adlyde Kristi påbud: ”I gransker Skrifterne, fordi I mener, at I har evigt liv i dem; og netop de vidner om mig.” Joh. 5,39. Denne ransagelse sætter den studerende til at følge det guddommelige Forbillede nøje. . . . . Mønsteret må inspiceres ofte og nøje, for at kunne efterligne det. Når nogen bliver bekendt med Forløserens historie, opdager han sine egne mangler i karakteren; at hans ulighed til Kristus er så stor at han ikke kan være en efterfølger uden en meget stor forandring i hans liv. Han studerer stadig, med et ønske om at være lige som sit store Eksempel; han griber udseendet fra sin elskede, ved at se at han er forandret.